That Rhys Millen screamed past the 14,000 foot mark to the top of the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb in less than 10 minutes is a major milestone for the nearly century-old race. But although he was driving a 700-hp Hyundai Genesis racecar, let's not forget that this is also the first year racers are driving on a fully paved course.

Millen's official time on the 12.42-mile course — which climbs 4,720 feet to a 14,110-foot pinnacle — was 9:46.164. This bests Monster Tajima's 9:51.278 from 2011.

His last record run in 2007 clocked 10 minutes, one second. Now, four years later, Nobuhiro…
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"With the insights gained from the last few years in our Genesis Coupe, the team was able to make some high-impact improvements, leveraging additional downforce and traction opportunities provided by the new all-tarmac surface," he said in a release. "And behind the wheel, my experience at Pikes Peak over the years allowed me to shave a few tenths from virtually every corner. Breaking the ten-minute barrier is something I've always wanted to do, and it feels great to accomplish this goal in 2012."

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Rhys Millen's team had recently fitted a turbocharger to the V6-powered Hyundai-ish vehicle, which Millen's father, Rod Millen, used to set the standing record. Rhys Millen nearly broke the 10-minute barrier last year, and the addition to the car of a turbo, some aerodynamic effects, and completion of road paving seem to have helped him get there, and then some.